God of Fire: Greek Myths A New Retelling Audiobook by Helen Steadman – Review by Shelly Kittell

5/5 stars

Heph is a pretty cool God that ends up going through some crazy stuff. I found this to be quite the entertaining story. The author did some pretty good research on her historical research. The characters were interesting and kept me engaged. I found the narrator had a pretty good range of voices so this kept the story with variety of changes throughout. The action and drama, what can I say 🙂 At times, I feel like the Greek Gods were similar to Shakespeare plays. It’s a really good story to listen to on audio. I’m really glad I did.

Pulling Together by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Kerry Baker

Pulling TogetherPulling Together by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is such a lovely and heart warming story by an author that our entire household always enjoys. This story is all about inclusion and sticking together, something that kids really would benefit from knowing more about as they grow up. It was really nice to see my daughter understand the subject matter and engage with it so naturally. It was perfect to teach her the morale of the story. As usually, we have already read this book multiple times and I am sure we will be reading it many more.

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Just One Time (Beaumont Creek Book 1) by Samantha Baca – Review by Kerry Baker

Just One Time (Beaumont Creek, #1)Just One Time by Samantha Baca
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a great enemies to lovers romance, with characters that have amazing chemistry. I really connected with them and loved watching how things developed between them. I also really enjoyed the fact that the main character was a little bit older than you usually find in books of this type. Most stories like this seem to focus on young women so it was nice to show how life doesn’t stop just because you reach a certain age.
I thought the book was really well written. The author pulls you into the story and I was really interested in how things would work out. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book.

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Return to Hoodoo (Boudin, Bourbon, and Barbecue, Book 1) by Reggi Dupree – Review by Jennifer Gordon

Return to Hoodoo: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Novel (Boudin, Barbecue, and Hoodoo Book 1)Return to Hoodoo: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel by Reggi Dupree
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in a new paranormal women’s fiction series, and it had me captivated from start to finish. Main character Gwen Carter is not happy having been summoned to her hometown of Hoodoo, Texas, and gained a second magical disability. Having accepted an inheritance which was too complicated to refuse, Gwen is then a witness to a murder by black magic. When Gwen finds herself at the top of the suspect list, she fears that she won’t be able to break her family’s curse. It’s not just her family legacy at stake if she can’t prove that she’s not behind the murders, it’s her life. Gwen is convinced that the current murders are actually connected to the one that made her leave her home in shame. This is an enjoyable and engaging supernatural thriller, with a wonderful main character, Gwen who is both likeable and relatable. The descriptive narrative brings both the characters and the setting vividly to life, making me feel immersed in the storyline.

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Destiny of Light (Quirk of Destiny Book 3) by Catherine Greenall – Review by Emily Beehler

<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50722653-destiny-of-light” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Destiny of Light (Quirk of Destiny, #3)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601379148l/50722653._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50722653-destiny-of-light”>Destiny of Light</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4044828.Catherine_Greenall”>Catherine Greenall</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5453747172″>4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
In the third and final installment of the Quirk of Destiny Trilogy the reader is immediately clued in on the protagonist, Calum, potentially loosing someone he loves dearly. Not just Calum, but the rest of the world loosing someone they love due to these environmental anomalies. This is a multiple point-of-view read as well, which did busy up the read a bit for me. Overall I enjoyed the concepts and themes that the author incorporated; the elite with their power, genetically modified foods to control the population, and what happens to humans when the world is ending.
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God of Fire : Greek Myths A New Retelling Audiobook by Helen Steadman – Review by Caralee Loonat

I just love the Greek Myths and this book was really spot on. The author has a style that was a breath of fresh air and really brought the myths to life. I really liked how she was able to create the chemistry between the characters and retell the stories. I really found myself unable to stop the audio book. I really enjoyed the choice of narrator and really felt as though I was right in the midst of the action. I was able to relax and enjoy the narration and I really feel that this brings new levels to the books as I could just get lost in the action. I really enjoyed this audio book and feel as though I would also buy the proper book just to add to the experience. I look forward to hearing more from this author.

 

Reviewed by @caraleeloonat

A Dress to Remember: A Fairy Tale by K. L. Small- Review by Stephanie Driskill

A Dress To Remember: A Fairy TaleA Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What little girl doesn’t want a magical dress? Princess Zarina wants a special dress: so special that everyone will remember her and her beautiful dress. With all the dress makers in the kingdom being busy for the Royal Advancement Ceremony combined with a gala so grand with visiting kingdoms, Zarina is taken to a special dress maker outside of the kingdom walls.
Zarina takes off on her own to go pick up her dress and it is not the dress she had envisioned. It wasn’t gold and ruffly, and pretty but instead black with gemstones and fire fairies dancing across the skirt. She was very mad and disappointed but when trying to take the dress off, she realized she was stuck in the dress and not just stuck but magically stuck in the dress! After giving the dressmaker the horses and carriage as promised, Zarina must now find her way back to her castle alone but the kingdom has been invaded and Princess Zarina must now avoid capture while being stuck in the dress. And to make matters worse, the common folk do not like her family or anyone who is a part of the ruling government! No one wants to help her or be seen helping her along her journey home. Will this dress be a help or hindrance in Zarina making it home safely and defeat the invaders? Can she save her kingdom, or will she be captured like the others? A great read with lots of magic and fun and a bit of intrigue thrown into the mix. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a touch of magic in their life. I definitely recommend the book for preteens and for girls to read and learn that they too can make a difference in the world they live in. Zarina grows in ways that she never thought possible. A true hero’s journey!

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Your Trainer Says Hi! (Vengeful Vixens Book 2) by Indie Sparks – Review by Allison Davis

Your Trainer Says Hi!Your Trainer Says Hi! by Indie Sparks

This was a cute short and fun read.

Nadine has been backstabbed by her boyfriend who went behind her back and took money out of their payroll fund to an “amazing opportunity”. *queue eye roll*. Nadine is MAD and decided as part of her payback she is going to take his personal training sessions. This is where she meets Wick, who puts her body through the wringer. 😉 Nadine is a strong independent woman who don’t need a man, but Wick just wants to make her happy and help her de-stress her life. Wick is a total cinnamon roll who has a naughty side and pulls out all the stops to win her over.

If you like a slight daddy kink, a sexy cinnamon roll, a strong woman, and a hot tub.. you will enjoy!

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Pulling Together by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Lorralei Hoerner

Pulling TogetherPulling Together by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

My great nieces, nephew and I love this author’s books and this is one of our favorites. Very good illustrations and I love the overall message of this story and young and old can enjoy and learn.

Lila is curious that her Grammie is knitting something from Lila that is 3 holes and no sleeves..what could it be? When Grammie is done with the poncho for Lila….she immediately tries it one to go outside…and this poncho keeps Lila warm. Will Lila share when her friends get chilly while playing outside too even is one of her friends is a bit abrasive?

Remember “We All Pull Together”…what a wonderful message for not only children to remember but for adults too.

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Dawnbreaker: The House of Blood and Sun by Hadley Thorne Reviewed by Jasmin Slagle

Dawnbreaker: The House of Blood and SunDawnbreaker: The House of Blood and Sun by Hadley Thorne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Niamh and Connor are great together, perfect chemistry. Niamh is a princess, while Conner is a vampire who hates being a vampire. Very well written, great characters with awesome personalities. I now need to read all the other books in this series.

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The Silent Road by S.N. McKibben – Review by Mary Espinoza

The Silent RoadThe Silent Road by S.N. McKibben
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Silent Road by S.N. McKibben is about a long-haul truck driver with some MM romance. There is plenty of emotion, blended with quite a bit of complicated family dynamics, anger, angst, a sexual discovery of sorts, a quest for redemption, and drama. The book has a “Brokeback Mountain” feel to it, but instead of the characters being cowboys, they’re trucker drivers.
The characters are presented with complex personalities and flaws which made it hard for me to connect with them. The one thing that I didn’t care for was that the only point of view came from Dan, the story’s main character. We ‘hear’ Dan’s point of view throughout the story, but we never really find out how the other characters feel, or what they are thinking, which added to my frustration because I like to have a story with multiple points of view so I can piece things together easier.
I don’t know much about long-haul truck driving, so to have some of the difficulties that the truck drivers face on these trips helped me understand some of the dynamic that the author was trying to put into the storyline. I will say that I thought that was a very interesting part of the story. Another thing that was mentioned in the story was the difficulty that Dan faces being recently divorced and trying to give his daughter the best life that he can. The family dynamic hit close to home in that area due to me being a child of divorced parents. Dan has so much to process in the book between being on the road long days and hours, his family issues and now his feelings that have developed and have left him utterly confused. I hope that this read is a little easier for some of you, I will say that is was definitely not what I was expecting, but overall was a pretty good read.

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Mary Espinoza, April 2023

Insomnia: (A Short Stories Collection) by Kelly Covic – Review by Carla Clemmons

Insomnia (A Short Stories Collection)Insomnia by Kelly Covic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a great quick read of scary short stories! I have to say my favorites were the stories called The Music Box and Idle Thursday. The last story, Idle Thursday, really got me because it’s a very real fear for me. I was not expecting a story like that at all, it wasn’t just about ghosts or other paranormal happenings. And The Music Box gave me chills when I read the ending! I love books that have short stories that leave something to the imagination and this one did just that. It was the first book I have read by this author but I will be looking at more of their books. They have an easy writing style that I really enjoyed!

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Insomnia: (A Short Stories Collection) by Kelly Covic – Review by Mary Espinoza

Insomnia (A Short Stories Collection)Insomnia by Kelly Covic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I now know why Kelly, the author of the short stories decided to call the book Insomnia! This is a book with several short stories that leave you thinking about the what if, the what happened, and the what the heck did I just read?! I found myself lost in the multiple short stories, some of them left me wondering what happened, some of them left me thinking…oh my! I’m not much for scary stories…I’m a big scaredy cat! But I did find this book to be very entertaining! Great job Kelly with writing amazing short stories that kept me captivated! There is a little bit of mystery, a little bit of chills and a whole lot of thinking that goes into reading these short stories! You will not be disappointed!

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Mary Espinoza, April 2023

Pulling Together by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jennifer Crain

Pulling TogetherPulling Together by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lila assumes her grandma made a mistake when she knitted her a 3-neck poncho. As the day turns blustery cold, Lila learns a lesson of gratitude and friendship as her and her friends stave off a bullyish boy.

This book would be perfect for a discussion of inclusion, taking chances (and elders sometimes know better) and getting along with peers. The colorful illustrations enhance to story as well. Perhaps too wordy for the youngest listeners, would be a delightful read/listen for slightly older preschoolers and kindergarten aged children.

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Pulling Together by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

Pulling TogetherPulling Together by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Lila’s Grandma starts knitting a poncho with three head holes Lila thinks that Grandma has surely made a mistake. When Lila asks her Grandma about she says, “We all pull together” and then sends her out to play wearing the poncho. Lila makes her way to her friends house that is two doors down. On the way she encounters two others, one of which is the neighborhood bully. Lila hurries on her way and once she gets to her friends house she discovers what her Grandma meant by her words.

This was a beautiful little story packed full of lessons and exquisite illustrations that really bring the story to life. Grandma had a lesson to teach Lila by knitting a poncho with three head holes but it was up to Lila to learn it through her own actions. Although intended for younger children it conveys important messages for all ages about peer pressure, bullying, sharing, kindness, gratitude, playing and working together. Another amazing book by this author!

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Other People’s Money (The Madeline Dawkins Series Book 7) by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Bobbi Wagner

Other People's Money (The Madeline Dawkins Series Book 7)Other People’s Money by Cynthia Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a series that keeps getting better and better with every book added to it. I highly suggest reading the other books in this series to help your enhancement of this series as well as this author’s writing style. Madeline is back with another suspenseful investigation and one you don’t want to miss. I found this book to be fast paced and engaging. A hard to put down story that has twists and turns that had me turning pages fast. I enjoyed how the characters pulled me into the story from the start. Madeline is a great, strong character that has been my favorite of this series. She finds herself into some suspenseful investigations and this one is no different. She is on the search for a missing bookkeeper plus a search into a woman who may not be who she seems. There is alot going on in this story but the author did a great job of transitioning between the two. I really enjoyed watching the growth in this book and enjoyed what the characters added to the story. I highly recommend this book.

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Review by @bjwagner

Just One Time (Beaumont Creek Book 1) by Samantha Baca – Review by Bobbi Wagner

Just One Time (Beaumont Creek, #1)Just One Time by Samantha Baca
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this romance story. This is a newer author for me which I look forward to reading more from in the future. I found this book to be fast paced and engaging. A well developed story about friendship and one steamy night. Could one night change friendship? I enjoyed these characters. They are strong, supportive characters that add to the entertainment of the story. I enjoyed how they pulled me into their world and how their chemistry is off the charts. They have great growth as well which made this story easy to read. This is a hard to put down story that I enjoyed reading. I highly recommend this book.

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Review by @bjwagner

Pulling Together by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tanya Wall, April 5, 2023

Pulling TogetherPulling Together by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lila’s grandmother knits a poncho for Lila. At first Lila thinks grammy made a mistake – there were three neck holes! She puts it over her head and arms and heads out to see her friends. She hopes that certain neighbors don’t see her… but they do. During her interactions with each of the kids in the neighborhood, they learn that if they “pull together” things work out much nicer for each of them. Lois Wickstrom uses this great way to show the idea of working together is better than working against.

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Fallen Soul (War of Destiny Book 4) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Trish Ann

Fallen Soul (War of Destiny # 4)Fallen Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoy how this story continued. The characters are very well developed and the author’s style keeps you engaged. I really love the vampire genre and this one fits in but has a different enough feel to it. I liked that Lane got his own book for his perspective. I appreciate books like that told from a different point of view. I am intrigued for what happens next.

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Fallen Soul (War of Destiny Book 4) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

Fallen Soul (War of Destiny # 4)Fallen Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fallen Soul is Book 4 in the War of Destiny Series. If you have not yet read the first books, I highly recommend reading them or you may feel a bit lost without all of the details of Lane or the others. Decades after being turned into a vampire Lane is still on the run after being condemned for feeding off his own kind. After escaping Valentino, King of the Vampires, Lane has a target on his back. Rumors have been circulated about him being crazy so it has forced Lane to be a loner. Valentino has ordered for Lane to be killed on sight but somehow, he manages to elude or kill anyone that tries to murder him. Lane attempts to flee to Ireland but gets discovered in Rome.

As Lane attempts to flee to a safer place he stumbles onto a group of vampires who are not the same as any other vampire he has ever encountered. These vampires do not flee from him, nor do they try to kill him. Not only that, but these vampires live with humans. Lane must decide if these vampires are allies or if they are more cunning than other vampires and intend to deter him from reaching his destination. Will Lane continue his journey solo or has he found friends in this group?

I have read this series from the first book and became invested in the characters and the story. The author does an amazing job with writing vivid scene descriptions that make the reader feel as though you are there with the characters. The characters are wonderful, and it was interesting to read how they developed through the story from book to book. Lane was a loner right from the beginning as he was shunned after being turned into a vampire. He was on the run, constantly looking over his shoulder and unable to trust anyone. It was interesting to see what Lane would decide to do when he meets a group of vampires unlike any that he has ever met. It forces him to make some difficult decisions about his future. A great vampire paranormal series.

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Insomnia: (A Short Stories Collection) by Kelly Covic – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

Insomnia (A Short Stories Collection)Insomnia by Kelly Covic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Insomnia is a collection of short stories written by Kelly Moran’s alter ego, Kelly Covic. Most of the stories are about dark and sinister things that go bump in the night. These stories will leave you with goosebumps and questioning what lurks in the dark. They will leave you feeling like eyes are watching you from the shadows. They will leave you looking over your shoulder as you question what that sound was that you just heard and what else is out there that you cannot see with the naked eye.

These stories will have you questioning everything you thought that you knew about life and death. From the haunted old mansion in Silent Sighs where eyes watch from the shadows to clothes that transport you to another time and place in The Attic. To Idle Thursday that will give you a whole other outlook on life after death and what really happens when we die. Be sure to read these stories with a light on, cuddled under a blanket for safety or you will begin to question every sound and what might be lurking in every shadow. These stories will terrify the pants off you and leave you with chills.

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Pulling Together by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Cindy Mayberry

Pulling TogetherPulling Together by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lila learns that her grandmother is wiser then she thought. As grandmother is making a ponçho with 3 holes in it. Lila soon find out what her grandmother means when she said,”We All Pull Together”. So why are there 3 holes in the ponçho? That can only be answered by reading this story! I absolutely love this author and her children’s books. She touched on many childhood pressures. Peers, Bullying, Sharing, Playing and Working Together. Her characters are the children we love and adore. This is another book all children’s libraries should have in it.

Review @cinful

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Fallen Soul (War of Destiny Book 4) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Kerry Carr

Fallen Soul (War of Destiny # 4)Fallen Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 4th book in the War of Destiny series. This is a gripping and engaging vampire story. I would definately recommend reading these books from the beginning so you get the full story. The author does an amazing job with the writing which makes this paranormal adventure story seem almost possible.
Lane has been through so many trials and troubles since becoming a vampire. He has been forced to escape his home land after the vampire King wanted his head. But now Lane has decided he wants to return home.
What follows is Lane’s story of him finding his way home but the path isn’t an easy one. With a bounty over his head he doesn’t know who he can and can’t trust. Everyone is out for his. So he is thrown off guard when he meets a strange woman and a group of vampires who don’t try and kill him and don’t run from him.
Is this a group of vampires he can trust or are they just playing him for another reason

This is a story of danger at every turn, chaos and fighting for your life. There are some sections of violence which maybe too much for some people to read bit overall I loved this story and the character growth in this series.

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Streets of Shadow by Rebecca Bischoff – Review by Erin Vosters

Streets of ShadowStreets of Shadow by Rebecca Bischoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The author wrote this story out very well to where the reader didn’t want to put it down. Set in the 1600’s, which is also why I loved this – murder mystery with twists and turns. This book will keep you up and keep you turning the page to find out what happens next.

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The Sweet Temptations Trilogy (Sinful Delights) by L.M. Mountford – Review by Vanessa Estrada

Vanessa Estrada rated a book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First, just a huge disclaimer: nobody is reading this for the plot. This is a quick, fun, smutty read, so don’t go in expecting something heavy or deep. This book is very entertaining and veryyy creative, but the characters really aren’t that fleshed out. I mean, the cover itself shows you what to expect and what’s going to be in the book. So, knowing that this book is meant to be a quick hot read, I have this book 5 stars because it accomplished that. It gave what it needed to give.

Fallen Soul (War of Destiny Book 4) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Melissa Fink

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2PNWO88KHKB5J/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Fallen Soul (War of Destiny # 4)Fallen Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! What an amazing read this was. I read this book in a day. Fallen Soul will grab your attention from the very first page til the last one. The world building and characters was well thought out. This book was very unpredictable and it makes you wanting to know what happens next. I highly recommend you checking out this series. I also recommend starting with the first book before reading the rest!

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Fallen Soul (War of Destiny Book 4) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Desiree Ottinger

Fallen Soul (War of Destiny # 4)Fallen Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lane Marlow is a wanted vampire and has been for decades. He has been forced to travel and survive on his own due to Valentino’s edict to kill him on sight. When he is surprised one night by a vampire named Julia that doesn’t know him, isn’t scared of him, and actually apologizes to him for catching him off guard -which has never happened before- he is intrigued. It’s been a long time since anyone was even remotely close to being friendly with him. As he gets to know Julia and her group, he finds himself at a crossroads. He could help them or stay out of their power struggles with Valentino. However, could this be the answer to ending his forced solitary lifestyle? Could they actually become friends??

This book is Lane’s perspective of what happened in book 3 of this series. I appreciated that the author gave him his own book so that the reader could get a different point of view of what happened AND gave us backstory on how Lane came to be a feared loner. I feel like the thought process of someone that has been on his own for a long time was captured well. I am looking forward to the next book to see what happens next.

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Other People’s Money (The Madeline Dawkins Series Book 7) by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Tonya Merritt

Other People's Money (The Madeline Dawkins Series Book 7)Other People’s Money by Cynthia Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first Madeline Dawkins series and I really enjoyed it. The story has action and mystery. A real ‘who done it’, twist and turn story sure to bring you to the edge. The characters are great to follow and read.

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Pulling Together by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tonya Merritt

Pulling TogetherPulling Together by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really can never say this enough, if you have a child who likes books or maybe you just like to read to your children Lois Wickstrom is an amazing author. In Pulling Together, she teaches about working together and doing things together. A fun story that teaches your kids values and more.

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Pulling Together by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jenni Bishop

Pulling TogetherPulling Together by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pulling Together is another exciting read from Lois. It is a story that the little ones from 4 to 8 years old will enjoy as they follow along with Lila and her unusual poncho. Lois has many children’s stories that also have something to teach little ones which is what makes he stories good.
Is Grandma crazy or is there more to her words?
Children will indulge their imaginations with the colourful illustrations that help to bring the story to life.
Find out what Lila does and how her poncho helps her in her adventures.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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